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Everything posted by Highburymark
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Stunning images Ken.
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Thanks for the heads up. Still an awesome sight today. It’s not just vast, but dense too, so could be around for a couple more days.
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To be fair it was the older Steeltrack model I had - before the ‘diamond’. Had two of them and both were decidedly unbuttery. Haven’t seen similar complaints with the newer range.
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Sorry if it was a bit of a let down.
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There used to be a Moonlite I think, but it’s not manufactured any more. There is a 3” Baader Hyperion focuser, which might fit? Worth calling Baader. But it’s as expensive as the Feathertouch. The Baader Steeltrack I had was poor - I wouldn’t recommend it even if it were compatible with the TSA. Finally, you might be able to use a smaller Feathertouch - FT2025 type - it might look a little incongruous with a larger scope but can hold heavy loads well. Question is whether there’s an adapter?
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Observing the sun.....with a difference!
Highburymark replied to cajen2's topic in Observing - Discussion
Thanks for posting this interesting link. There’s also the amazing Exoplanet app which I have on my IPad which has much of our galaxy plotted out into individual stars - and as you move away from our solar system, you can watch the shape of familiar constellations changing. Also allows you to visit stars and exoplanets individually. And you can home in on Sagittarius A - out very own black hole, and watch how close stars are moving around it at mind boggling speeds. It has helped me understand the night sky and constellations in a new way. You can buy add ons to cover galaxies and galaxy groups if you want to go bigger. -
New updated Takahashi Epsilon 130D
Highburymark replied to GalaxyGael's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Suspect it may just be cosmetic - just like the new blue Tak refractor colour a couple of years ago. The Epsilons do seem to have very long lifetimes between model upgrades. The good news is they hold collimation incredibly well. I haven’t adjusted mine since I bought it - and that was secondhand. -
New updated Takahashi Epsilon 130D
Highburymark replied to GalaxyGael's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Nice! I like the new colour. Can’t see any other changes from first glance. Maybe collimation system? Here are couple of pics of mine from similar angles. -
Coronado PST disappointment
Highburymark replied to steenkh's topic in Getting Started Equipment Help and Advice
Good advice above. Sunspots are predominantly photospheric features rather than the chromosphere you are observing with an Ha telescope. So they are much better in white light. Unfortunately PST etalons are very variable, so no two examples will perform the same. But you should be able to resolve prominences and filaments easily with a double stacked scope. There is a possibility that your main etalon (filter) has decontacted. It’s always a risk, particularly if handled roughly during postage. So if you continue to see no detail, it’s important you tell the retailer and return the scope. -
Was my first astronomy book too Jeremy! Enjoy.
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They are in production again - but the price is incredible - 840 euros from APM, plus import duty…..,
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Show your Refractor Grab n' go Setup!
Highburymark replied to refractor2345's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
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Great for showing the night sky to the public or kids who want to be impressed. But I think they leave a lot of seasoned astronomers cold - those who love the hobby because of live views. I count myself in that latter group, but then I love night vision astronomy from my urban location, which itself divides opinion among keen observers. There’s a lot of technical debate about electronically enhanced astronomy and where the dividing lines should be. For me it’s something more instinctive. I react emotionally to live views, and not to stacked images, otherwise I’d be interested in digital scopes. But I can see why they are so absorbing as outreach tools.
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Show your Refractor Grab n' go Setup!
Highburymark replied to refractor2345's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
TeleVue 85, hewn from granite, top all-rounder, planets, Moon, solar Ha and white light. Tecnosky 60ED. ultimate G&G, I use this hand-held with a night vision eyepiece. -
When were the first zoom astro eyepieces introduced?
Highburymark replied to F15Rules's topic in Discussions - Eyepieces
Think it had a single rubber grip, but was similarly tall and svelte. Very rare now and highly collectible. There was also a Swarovski version for their spotting scopes. -
When were the first zoom astro eyepieces introduced?
Highburymark replied to F15Rules's topic in Discussions - Eyepieces
I think it was 7.7-23.1mm and looked similar to the above Louis but I never actually saw one in the flesh. -
Actually the supplied Skytee clamps aren’t that bad these days - I think they’ve been upgraded in recent years. Fine for a light scope, though ADM and other alternatives obv much better
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Lovely disc - congrats Nigella
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When were the first zoom astro eyepieces introduced?
Highburymark replied to F15Rules's topic in Discussions - Eyepieces
In terms of high quality zooms which rate alongside fixed eyepieces, I remember a Meade 4000 zoom from the late 1990s which cost around £240 at the time - over twice the price of a case of 8 Meade Plossls. I couldn’t work out why it was so expensive - only later found out it was made by Swarovski. -
Baader Coolwedge - shortening the light path
Highburymark replied to Stu's topic in Discussions - Scopes / Whole setups
Ok - dim question - just 2” to T2. Always interested in your white light reports Stu so do report back if you get the wedge working with your Vixen